Koji Kanemoto headlined Sumo Hall today for, I believe, the first time in his career as part of DRAGON GATE’s first advance on the hallowed building. Kanemoto, after repeated wins in DG, challenged Open The Dream Gate Champion, Naruki Doi, in the main event. This was a super-physical match to the extent that Doi was barely conscious for part of the match. He survived Kanemoto’s famous ankle hell attacks and won in close to half an hour with the Muscular Bomb.

DRAGON GATE “THE GATE OF ANNIVERSARY”, 3/22/09
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
11,500 Fans - Super No Vacancy Full House

- Open The Dream Gate Title: Naruki Doi (c) beat Koji Kanemoto (27:41) with the Muscular Bomb (2nd defense).

After beating BxB Hulk in the same building last time he appeared in DRAGON GATE, Kanemoto again appeared today to build up his upcoming Sumo Hall main event against Naruki Doi. The two were opposite each other in trios action, with Kanemoto getting the upper hand leading in.

DRAGON GATE “GLORIOUS GATE”, 3/5/09
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
2,150 Fans - Super No Vacancy

- Koji Kanemoto , Masaaki Mochizuki & Don Fujii beat Naruki Doi, BxB Hulk & Naoki Tanisaki (16:03) when Mochizuki used a kakato otoshi on Tanisaki.

Koji Kanemoto will look to inflict some punishment on BxB Hulk when the two collide at DRAGON GATE’s 2/12 Korakuen Hall show. Hulk insulted Kanemoto today after Koji’s special appearance in DRAGON GATE, setting up a singles match between the two next month. BxB competed in the 2007 Best of the Super Jr. and was beaten easily by Kanemoto, but Aniki said today that this is a different BxB who will be a much tougher opponent.

DRAGON GATE, 1/23/09
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

- Masaaki Mochizuki & Koji Kanemoto beat BxB Hulk & Naoki Tanisaki (11:19) when Kanemoto used an ankle hold on Tanisaki.

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DRAGON GATE, 2/12/09
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

- BxB Hulk vs. Koji Kanemoto

Jushin Thunder Liger could hold two outside tag titles by the time 2009 comes around. We already knew that he and AKIRA would challenge heavyweights Daisuke Sekimoto & Mammoth Sasaki for the BJW Tag Team Title this month, but he will also now be involved in CIMA’s return match on DRAGON GATE soil, as the two challenge YAMATO & Cyber Kong for the Open The Twin Gate Tag Team Title. This is one new interpromotional match announced involving NJ wrestlers, and here is a list of upcoming ones, including the famous New Japan “bad boy” junior trio reuniting on New Year’s Day…

AJPW “FAN APPRECIATION DAY”, 12/14/08
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

- Tiger Mask & Shisa Mask vs. Kiyonari Sanada & Manabu Soya

ZERO1-MAX “ZERO1 DELIGHT 2008″, 12/17/08
Shinjuku FACE

- World Heavyweight Title: Yuji Nagata (c) vs. Tatsuhito Takaiwa

BJW, 12/19/08
Yokohama Bunka Gymnasium

- BJW Tag Team Title: Daisuke Sekimoto & Mammoth Sasaki (c) vs. Jushin Thunder Liger & AKIRA

DRAGON GATE, 12/28/08
Fukuoka International Center

- Open The Twin Gate: YAMATO & Cyber Kong (c) vs. Jushin Thunder Liger & CIMA

ZERO1-MAX “GENESIS 2009″, 1/1/09
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

- New Year Special Fight: Shinjiro Otani, Tatsuhito Takaiwa & Koji Kanemoto vs. Masato Tanaka, Jado & Gedo
- New Year Big Fight: Kohei Sato vs. Manabu Nakanishi

LOCK UP, 1/10/09
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

- Kazuchika Okada vs. Nobuo Yoshihashi
- Jado & Gedo vs. Masaaki Mochizuki & Tetsuya Naito